Possible new 914 owner + 700 mile drive home tips Options

[1973tii]

I'm strongly considering buying my uncle's 914. It's a green 1975 1.8L garaged California car in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition.

We're 700 miles apart and if I got it, I'd fly down and drive it home. That said, I have a sneaking suspicion that this car, as lovingly maintained as it is, could demonstrate a gremlin or ten on a long, sustained drive in warm weather. The 914 is currently taken out very infrequently, for short drives.

As knowledgeable 914 owners, what sort of recommendations would you have for this trip (other than a AAA membership -- (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )? A reasonable amount of tools will be carried. Beyond that, should I have a few electro-mechanical switches "in stock", along with a belt, etc, etc...? Any notorious parts that should be carried? I'm competent with the diagnostics/wrenching, but have no experience with these cars and don't know what breaks.

Thanks!

[Ian Stott]

I will sleep better now! I don't advocate being reckless, checking it out properly is all that is needed, these are actually quite reliable cars. I would have driven down to Conn. to Chris Foley's (Tangerine Racing) for the BBQ this weekend if I wasn't already busy, that is a 12 hour drive for me plus waiting to get thru the border! I was talking to Chris and I was going to get a prize for travelling the farthest (of course I shamelessly begged for it in advance) We just finished the Atlantic Nationals here in Moncton last weekend which is Canada's largest car show and I couldn't help noticing how many cars are trailered to this event and pulled out and put on display, I would prefer to have a car I can enjoy driving around. I go back to my original statement of having your 914 checked over by someone qualified to do so and then enjoy the drive, breakdowns do happen, parts can fail, but again these are quite reliable cars, regardless of the age.

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada